South Africa coach Peter de Villiers has recalled winger Bryan Habana and
named Francois Hougaard at scrum-half in two of five changes to his starting
lineup to face Namibia in their rugby World Cup Pool D clash on Thursday.

Habana good time: South Africa have recalled the pacey Bryan HabanaPhoto: AP

By Telegraph staff and agencies

7:51AM BST 20 Sep 2011

Habana returns after recovering from a knee injury which forced him out of the 49-3 win over Fiji on Saturday and takes the place of JP Pietersen, who drops out of the matchday squad.

"Bryan brings some energy to the team. He's a bundle of energy. I'm glad to give him a run again," De Villiers told reporters at the team's base in Taupo on Tuesday.

The speedy winger will have the perfect opportunity to overtake former scrum-half Joost van der Westhuizenand become the Springboks' record try scorer against the lowly Namibians, but De Villiers was only focused on retaining the trophy.

"If you can give me one player on this team that will put his interests above the interests of the team, then today I will personally send him home," the coach said.

"If he gets his record-breaking try and we lose the game, what does it mean to the team, and what does it mean at all to be here?

"We all understand why we're here, and we'll work toward that common goal."

Hougaard earns a start for the holders ahead of Fourie Du Preez after two impressive performances from the bench, including the match-winning try against Wales in the opening 17-16 win.

There was also a place in the side for winger Gio Aplon, flanker Willem Alberts and tighthead prop CJ Van der Linde as De Villiers resisted the opportunity to make wholesale changes to his team that are expected to easily overcome Namibia.

Flanker Heinrich Brussow dropped to the bench to make way for Alberts while winger Odwa Ndungane and prop Jannie Du Plessis were rested for the Pool D clash after starting against Fiji.

South Africa are heavy favourites to win Pool D and after facing Namibia at the North Harbour Stadium in Albany, they round off their group campaign against Samoa on Sept. 30.

If they do clinch Pool D it would likely set up a tricky quarter-final against Tri-Nations champions Australia with hosts and tournament favourites New Zealand probable last four opponents should they make it through.

The runners-up in Pool D are likely to face a possibly easier path to the final against Six Nation opposition but Smit said he was only focused on winning the next match.

"That's the wonderful thing about a World Cup. There are so many permutations and people trying to guess the routes and pathways," Smit said.

"I think as a team if you try and think what might come, you often lose sight of where you need to be going in the next couple of minutes."

After just one win in this year's Tri-Nations, the Springboks showed a big improvement in their dismantling of Fiji in Wellington and De Villiers said he thought the team was heading in the right direction.

"I think we certainly are making progress. In a World Cup, if you can keep winning and improving there's enough weeks for you to get into your perfect type of form."